In Canada, we vote with a piece of paper. It looks like this:
You put an X in the box you like best. Then you fold it in three and hand it to the girl. She rips off the edge, gives you your ballot, and you drop it in a big cardboard box.
So I found out how we're doing it. We aren't using computers. Instead, we just have bubble sheets, and then you put them in a scanning machine of a sorts. Sounds easy enough!
In Canada, we vote with a piece of paper. It looks like this:
You put an X in the box you like best. Then you fold it in three and hand it to the girl. She rips off the edge, gives you your ballot, and you drop it in a big cardboard box.
I'm just sayin'.
I'd so vote for Laura Secord if she was running. Chocolate and kicking American ass, what's not to like?
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An American couple who sold their belongings to finance a trip to Latin America returned home Tuesday after they were brutally attacked in Ecuador, according to the couple's blog and U.S. officials.
State Department spokesman Robert Wood confirmed Tuesday that two Americans from Bend, Oregon, were attacked in the city of Esmeraldas, on Ecuador's northern coast. But he said he could provide no further information because of privacy laws.
Two State Department officials, however, said that the man, named by his family in media reports as Britt Leis, was stabbed more than 24 times and that his fiancee was beaten and raped.
CNN does not name victims of sexual abuse.
The couple was evacuated to the United States on Tuesday for treatment, the officials said.
A relative told local media the attack happened Thursday as the couple was walking along a beach.
The couple wrote a blog throughout their trip. In the most recent post on Monday, Leis' fiancee wrote that he was in intensive care after three surgeries.
"I was informed by the head surgeon there is no certainty he will survive," she wrote.
The earlier postings were happier reflections on their travels through Latin America, a year-long trip they planned after getting engaged and selling all their belongings.
In the blog, the couple did not mention safety concerns as they described their adventures hitchhiking, visiting the homes of strangers and exploring the countryside.
One senior official told CNN that the victims' parents complained to U.S. consular officers in Ecuador that the embassy did not do enough to warn Americans that many people have been attacked in Esmeraldas.
The State Department's Web site advises caution when traveling to the northern border region of Ecuador, including Esmeraldas.
"U.S. government personnel are under limitations with respect to traveling alone and over-nighting in these areas due to the spread of organized crime, drug trafficking, small arms trafficking, and incursions by various Colombian terrorist organizations," the State Department's travel advisory section notes.
The Web site says that since 1998, at least 10 U.S. citizens have been kidnapped and one killed near Ecuador's border with Colombia.
Wood on Tuesday expressed the State Department's "deep sympathy" for the attack and said the department worked with the victims' families to provide assistance.
"It's a horrible and shocking incident" he said.
Scary stuff. I think the idea of selling off all your stuff and traveling around is a really romantic idea, so it's really sad that this happened. At least they survived the ordeal though.
But I was a little irritated at the parents trying to push blame on the Consular. I mean, they were hitchhiking and visiting strangers' homes. There is a bit of risk in wandering aimlessly like that.
Coincidentally, I had a conversation regarding this area of the world with Roberto several weeks ago. I have never been to South America, and I have no plans to go in the near future. But even I know not to go to the Northern coast around Esmeraldas. You know how I know? I spent five minutes and read the State Department's web site, which really should be any US traveler's best friend. Maybe they do know and took the risk anyway.
I'm not saying that they deserve it, heavens no. I'm just saying that the Consular isn't to blame. They can't hold the hands of every American who comes by. There are certain areas of far Western China that I don't intend to ever go to for reasons just like that.
We did talk about that! Hell, what a coincidence! I had no idea Esmeraldas was that dangerous... I mean, I knew it had a high crime rate, but not a "we'll stab you 24 times" crime rate. Well, on a related note, after years of citizens complaining about crime, the Police left the capital as its base of operations and moved it to Guayaquil, in the coast. This was not enough though, and now (it just appeared on the papers today) the Police is declaring itself on emergency which from what I gather basically means a lot more operations and surveillance. Hopefully it will do at least some good.
LONDON, England (CNN) -- The release of one of the most hotly awaited computer games in the past year has been delayed over concerns some of the background music may offend Muslims.
"LittleBigPlanet," described by review Web site IGN.com as an "instant classic," has been pulled from warehouses after it was noticed that one of its music tracks contained words from the Islamic holy text, the Quran.
The move is a blow to the Sony PlayStation game, seen as the console's first launch of an icon to match Nintendo's ubiquitous Mario, in which rag doll character Sackboy negotiates a lavishly designed world of platforms and challenges.
"We're sure that most of you have heard by now that one of the background music tracks that was licensed from a record label for use in the game contains two expressions that can be found in the Quran," a statement on the game's Web site said.
"We have taken immediate action to rectify this and we sincerely apologize for any offense this may have caused."
It said the game, initially due for release earlier in the month, will now begin shipping in North America in the week of October 27.
A statement on the Web site of Media Molecule, the game's UK-based developer, said the company was "shellshocked and gutted" by the delay.
"At MM, we were as shocked and dismayed by this as anyone," it said.
So wait, are there just phrases from the Quran in a song, or is there some sort of anti-Muslim message in there too? The article sounds like the first one, but that's one of the most retarded reasons to delay a game ever.
I swear to GOD! I only see one solution for the world. I WILL become president, from there I will become dictator, from there I will conquer all the world. I will be seen as a tyrant until the original generation of dissidents are eliminated and I can have the new generation enrolled in my special education program. I will be seen from then on as the savior of the world. Don't worry, you'll all have a place in my utopia, you will just have to be kept seperate from the younger generations, until they've completed their education.
The problem is that everyone is afraid now. People are avoiding Muslim references for the sole reason that they're afraid of retaliation from violent extremists. It's no longer PC to make any reference to Islam.
South Park was so right regarding this. They can't show a picture of Muhammad on TV, but it's perfectly okay to show Jesus, Bush, and a bunch of other people shitting all over each other and the American flag.
Actually, I don't think that's it at all. From what I come across there's actually some reason Muslims aren't supposed to set scripture to music or something like that. There's an actual rule about it and some muslims take it pretty seriously (some muslims seem to take a lot of things too seriously, but for some of them religion is the law I suppose). That and Sony has been burned on matters of religion before, so they are taking the safe route. They NEED LBP to be spotless.
Right. Muslims aren't supposed to set scripture to music. We're not Muslims.
I have some Muslim friends, and none of them are batshit insane like the media blows them up to be. When we go out to eat for dinner, we just make sure we order some non-pork dishes for them. They don't condemn me to eternal damnation for eating pork and drinking beer. To each his own. Most Muslims are peace loving, normal, every day people who just want to live life. The problem is that people don't have this perception, and people are afraid. That's why trailer trash in the south get all freaked out about Barack Husein Obama.
But in all seriousness, this obsession with not doing anything to offend Islam is ridiculous. Are we supposed to adhere to every single tenet of every major religion? If so, we need to make sure we start following everything Christian. Better stop working on Sundays. And if you don't, then you're going to accumulate bad karma for offending Jesus. So you'd better spend some extra time praying to Allah, which is going to take time away from honoring your parents and ancestors, who are always looking over you too. And in the end the atheists are all going to be pissed off because they'll all believe you're making everyone waste their time on something that is totally irrelevant.
There. I successfully criticized Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Nonsecular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and traditional Chinese religion/beliefs/philosophy (Confucianism, but there's also Taoism, traditional folk culture, etc). That's the five biggest religions (beliefs, mindsets, whatever).
I have no problems with people being religious. Again, to each his own. I do have a problem when people start expecting others to believe and honor what they do. Or even worse yet when people are too afraid of what will happen if they don't.
WASHINGTON – Two white supremacists allegedly plotted to go on a national killing spree, shooting and decapitating black people and ultimately targeting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, federal authorities said Monday.
In all, the two men whom officials describe as neo-Nazi skinheads planned to kill 88 people — 14 by beheading, according to documents unsealed in U.S. District Court in Jackson, Tenn. The numbers 88 and 14 are symbolic in the white supremacist community.
The spree, which initially targeted an unidentified predominantly African-American school, was to end with the two men driving toward Obama, "shooting at him from the windows," the court documents show.
"Both individuals stated they would dress in all white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt," the court complaint states. "Both individuals further stated they knew they would and were willing to die during this attempt."
An Obama spokeswoman traveling with the senator in Pennsylvania had no immediate comment.
Sheriffs' deputies in Crockett County, Tenn., arrested the two suspects — Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., and Paul Schlesselman 18, of Helena-West Helena, Ark. — Oct. 22 on unspecified charges. "Once we arrested the defendants and suspected they had violated federal law, we immediately contacted federal authorities," said Crockett County Sheriff Troy Klyce.
The two were charged by federal authorities Monday with possessing an unregistered firearm, conspiring to steal firearms from a federally licensed gun dealer, and threatening a candidate for president.
Cowart and Schlesselman are being held without bond. Agents seized a rifle, a sawed-off shotgun and three pistols from the men when they were arrested. Authorities alleged the two men were preparing to break into a gun shop to steal more.
Attorney Joe Byrd, who has been hired to represent Cowart, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Monday. Messages left on two phone numbers listed under Cowart's name were not immediately returned.
No telephone number for Schlesselman in Helena-West Helena could be found immediately.
The court documents say the two men met about a month ago on the Internet and found common ground in their shared "white power" and "skinhead" philosophy.
The numbers 14 and 88 are symbols in skinhead culture, referring to a 14-word phrase attributed to an imprisoned white supremacist: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children" and to the eighth letter of the alphabet, H. Two "8"s or "H"s stand for "Heil Hitler."
Court records say Cowart and Schlesselman also bought nylon rope and ski masks to use in a robbery or home invasion to fund their spree, during which they allegedly planned to go from state to state and kill people. Agents said the skinheads did not identify the African-American school they were targeting by name.
Jim Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of the Nashville field office for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, said authorities took the threats very seriously.
"They said that would be their last, final act — that they would attempt to kill Sen. Obama," Cavanaugh said. "They didn't believe they would be able to do it, but that they would get killed trying."
He added: "They seemed determined to do it. Even if they were just to try it, it would be a trail of tears around the South."
The investigation is continuing, and more charges are possible, Cavanaugh said. He said there's no evidence — so far — that others were willing to assist Cowart and Schlesselman with the plot.
At this point, there does not appear to be any formal assassination plan, Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said.
"Whether or not they had the capability or the wherewithal to carry out an attack remains to be seen," he said.
Zahren said the statements about the assassination came out in interviews after the men were arrested last week.
The Secret Service became involved in the investigation once it was clear that an Obama assassination attempt was part of this violent far-reaching plot.
"We don't discount anything," Zahren said, adding that it's one thing for the defendants to make statements, but it's not the same as having an organized assassination plan.
Helena-West Helena, on the Mississippi River in east Arkansas' Delta, is in one of the nation's poorest regions, trailing even parts of Appalachia in its standard of living. Police Chief Fred Fielder said he had never heard of Schlesselman.
However, the reported threat of attacking a school filled with black students worried Fielder. Helena-West Helena, with a population of 12,200, is 66 percent black. "Predominantly black school, take your pick," he said.
OMAHA, Neb. -- Acting on a tip about possible cat hoarding, the Nebraska Humane Society discovered 114 cats inside a home near 66th Street and Parkview Lane Friday.
Armed with a search warrant, humane society personnel along with police and city housing inspectors went to investigate.
Nebraska Humane Society spokesman Mark Langan said it smelled of feces and those who went inside had to wear protective gear.
Inside a freezer, there were 15 dead cats as well as two dead guinea pigs.
Neighbors told KETV NewsWatch 7 they were glad authorities finally took action.
"You got a dead tree in the back yard there. You call the city -- they don't do anything. It's very frustrating living next to this. You attempt to keep up your property and you have a neighbor who... it's frustrating, " said Sue McCoy.
The housing inspectors ruled the house unliveable.
Langan said the house is in foreclosure.
Sue Johansen, 49, was ticketed for numerous animal cruelty violations.
WESTFIELD, Mass.— With an instructor watching, an 8-year-old boy at a gun fair aimed an Uzi at a pumpkin and pulled the trigger as his dad reached for a camera.It was his first time shooting a fully automatic machine gun, and the recoil of the weapon was too much for him. He lost control and fatally shot himself in the head.
Now gun safety experts — and some gun enthusiasts at the club where the shooting happened — are wondering why such a young child was allowed to fire a weapon used in war. Local, state and federal authorities are also investigating whether everyone involved had proper licenses or if anyone committed a criminal act.
"It's easy to lose control of a weapon like that ... they are used on a battleground for a very good reason," said Jerry Belair, a spokesman for Stop Handgun Violence, based in Newton, Mass. "It's to shoot as many times as you possibly can without having to reload at an enemy that's approaching. It's not a toy. It's not something to play with."
Police said Christopher Bizilj (Bah-SEAL) of Ashford, Conn., was pronounced dead at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., on Sunday afternoon, shortly after firing a 9mm micro Uzi submachine gun at the Machine Gun Shoot and Firearms Expo at the Westfield Sportsman's Club, co-sponsored by C.O.P. Firearms & Training.
"The weapon was loaded and ready to fire," Westfield police Lt. Hipolito Nunez said. "The 8-year-old victim had the Uzi and as he was firing the weapon, the front end of the weapon went up with the backfire and he ended up receiving a round in his head."
Nunez said the investigation is continuing.
Christopher, a third-grader, was attending the show with his father and sixth-grade brother, Colin. Christopher had fired handguns and rifles before, but Sunday was his first time firing an automatic weapon, said his father, Charles Bizilj.
Bizilj told the Boston Globe he was about 10 feet behind his son and reaching for his camera when the weapon fired. He said his family avoided the larger weapons, but he let his son try the Uzi because it's a small weapon with little recoil.
"This accident was truly a mystery to me," said Bizilj, director of emergency medicine at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford, Conn. "This is a horrible event, a horrible travesty, and I really don't know why it happened."
Police are calling the shooting an accident but are investigating whether everyone connected with the incident had proper weapons permits. Massachusetts requires licenses to own firearms, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issues different licenses to possess machine guns.
The machine gun shoot drew hundreds of people from as far away as Maine and Virginia. An advertisement said it would include machine gun demonstrations and rentals and free handgun lessons.
"It's all legal & fun — No permits or licenses required!!!!" reads the ad, posted on the club's Web site.
"You will be accompanied to the firing line with a Certified Instructor to guide you. But You Are In Control — "FULL AUTO ROCK & ROLL," the ad said.
The ad also said children under 16 would be admitted free, and both adults and children were offered free .22-caliber pistol and rifle shooting.
Massachusetts has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. It is legal in Massachusetts for children to fire a weapon if they have permission from a parent or legal guardian and they are supervised by a properly certified and licensed instructor, Nunez said. The name of the instructor who was with the boy at the time was not released.
"We do not know at this time the full facts of this incident," Nunez said Monday.
Why a parent would let an 8-year old fire any gun, let alone an uzi, is beyond me.
Well, with proper training guns aren't supposed to hurt you. You only get hurt if you're not careful. My cousin is a police officer and certified gun instructor, and he's taken me out shooting at ranges before. He's extremely serious and strict when it comes to teaching, but because of it I'm confident I know exactly what I'm doing.
To an extent I can understand letting a child fire a handgun. Firing a handgun, learning accuracy, it can be relaxing and fun. I personally don't think a child needs to practice that, but it's a hobby, and you can make good money as an adult if you show talent in it. But an uzi? There's no reason for a child to hold that. Absolutely no fucking reason. Fully automatic weapons are designed to kill.
Comments
I believe that's how our state is doing it. You're supposed to make your vote, it'll print out, and put it in a nearby vote scanning thingy ma bobber.
You put an X in the box you like best. Then you fold it in three and hand it to the girl. She rips off the edge, gives you your ballot, and you drop it in a big cardboard box.
I'm just sayin'.
Just giving your argument some much-needed perspective.
Scary stuff. I think the idea of selling off all your stuff and traveling around is a really romantic idea, so it's really sad that this happened. At least they survived the ordeal though.
But I was a little irritated at the parents trying to push blame on the Consular. I mean, they were hitchhiking and visiting strangers' homes. There is a bit of risk in wandering aimlessly like that.
Coincidentally, I had a conversation regarding this area of the world with Roberto several weeks ago. I have never been to South America, and I have no plans to go in the near future. But even I know not to go to the Northern coast around Esmeraldas. You know how I know? I spent five minutes and read the State Department's web site, which really should be any US traveler's best friend. Maybe they do know and took the risk anyway.
I'm not saying that they deserve it, heavens no. I'm just saying that the Consular isn't to blame. They can't hold the hands of every American who comes by. There are certain areas of far Western China that I don't intend to ever go to for reasons just like that.
Sony game delayed over Quran gaffe
South Park was so right regarding this. They can't show a picture of Muhammad on TV, but it's perfectly okay to show Jesus, Bush, and a bunch of other people shitting all over each other and the American flag.
I have some Muslim friends, and none of them are batshit insane like the media blows them up to be. When we go out to eat for dinner, we just make sure we order some non-pork dishes for them. They don't condemn me to eternal damnation for eating pork and drinking beer. To each his own. Most Muslims are peace loving, normal, every day people who just want to live life. The problem is that people don't have this perception, and people are afraid. That's why trailer trash in the south get all freaked out about Barack Husein Obama.
But in all seriousness, this obsession with not doing anything to offend Islam is ridiculous. Are we supposed to adhere to every single tenet of every major religion? If so, we need to make sure we start following everything Christian. Better stop working on Sundays. And if you don't, then you're going to accumulate bad karma for offending Jesus. So you'd better spend some extra time praying to Allah, which is going to take time away from honoring your parents and ancestors, who are always looking over you too. And in the end the atheists are all going to be pissed off because they'll all believe you're making everyone waste their time on something that is totally irrelevant.
There. I successfully criticized Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Nonsecular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist, and traditional Chinese religion/beliefs/philosophy (Confucianism, but there's also Taoism, traditional folk culture, etc). That's the five biggest religions (beliefs, mindsets, whatever).
I have no problems with people being religious. Again, to each his own. I do have a problem when people start expecting others to believe and honor what they do. Or even worse yet when people are too afraid of what will happen if they don't.
To an extent I can understand letting a child fire a handgun. Firing a handgun, learning accuracy, it can be relaxing and fun. I personally don't think a child needs to practice that, but it's a hobby, and you can make good money as an adult if you show talent in it. But an uzi? There's no reason for a child to hold that. Absolutely no fucking reason. Fully automatic weapons are designed to kill.
Freaking idiot.